Prior to the 2025 season, many fans were concerned about the lack of legitimate offensive prospects in the Pirates' minor league system. This was a valid concern, as the club had only 12 non-debuted hitters with at least 300 plate appearances who registered a wRC+ above league average.
However, the 2026 season was a completely different story. The biggest breakout was Konnor Griffin's rise to the top of prospects lists across the nation, but it didn't end there. Esmerlyn Valdez and Edward Florentino also took massive strides into prospect stardom alongside Griffin.
With how exciting these developments were, multiple breakout performances went under the radar all season long. One of the most positive examples of this was Duce Gourson, the Pirates' ninth-round pick from the previous season.
In his first full season of professional baseball, Gourson took massive strides forward and quickly became one of the more slept-on hitters in the system. The UCLA alum has now put himself in a prime position to leap even further in 2026, potentially even having the chance to make his big league debut later in the year.
Let’s take a closer look at his tools, on-field production, and the other aspects that make Gourson such an interesting prospect moving forward.
Duce Gourson’s 2025 Success
After making it the whole way to High-A during his limited first taste of professional action in 2024, Gourson returned to the level looking for vengeance. He had struggled in his previous stint at the level, but this would not be the case once again.
Gourson appeared in 39 games and tore the cover off the ball at every opportunity he got. He slashed .261/.368/.449 with five homers and a 137 wRC+, quickly becoming one of the best hitters in a loaded Grasshoppers lineup.
One of the most encouraging pieces of this stint was Gourson’s positive strides in his plate discipline. In his limited time during the 2024 season, Gourson posted a strikeout rate slightly above 23.4%, but that number quickly shrunk to 16.9% in 2025. He also still maintained a walk rate above 10%.
On top of this, Gourson showed off his speed when given the opportunity to do so. He nabbed 21 bases during this short stint, while only being caught stealing twice.
After seeing the major strides forward offensively that Gourson had taken, the Pirates decided it was time for the 22-year-old to leap to Double-A. Shifting to a much less hitter-friendly ballpark in Altoona while seeing better pitching, this transition often breaks many hitters. Nonetheless, Gourson was not a victim of this trend.
After arriving in Double-A Altoona, Gourson quickly continued to produce. Across 56 games, Gourson slashed .284/.372/.431 with five homers and a 134 wRC+, proving that his High-A success was not a fluke. Gourson was a huge part of the Curve’s impressive second-half offense, which eventually snapped a seven-year playoff drought.
While he was still very productive in this span, it’s important to note that his strikeout rate did increase closer to its 2024 level. He posted a strikeout rate of exactly 27% during this span in Double-A, showing this change. Even though this number surged, Gourson did still manage to post an identical walk rate to his High-A mark of 10.2%.
Gourson also nabbed another 10 stolen bases while with the Curve, which continued to show how impressive he was on the bases. This gave Gourson 31 steals on the season, a number that put him in an exclusive club. He joined Konnor Griffin and Edward Florentino as the only three prospects with at least 30 steals and a 130 or better wRC+ (min. 300 plate appearances).
All things considered, the Pirates truly couldn’t have asked for better on-field results from the 22-year-old in his first full professional season. He’s already performed far better than expected from a ninth-round pick, and if this momentum continues into 2026, he’ll quickly become a household name in the system.
Evaluating the Raw Tools
Aside from the impressive metrics Gourson recorded during the 2025 season, he also flashed some pretty impressive raw tools. Those skills jump off the page when watching him play, and they provide a strong foundation for the type of player he could be in the future.
For starters, Gourson’s hit tool was very impressive during the 2025 season. This was especially impressive in Double-A, where Gourson showed the ability to consistently make contact against better pitching and regularly produce competitive at-bats.
He registered a contact rate just shy of 75% while in Double-A, which is a super encouraging mark. He’s generally a very patient hitter, as his swing rate sat just below 45% during this same period. He regularly made solid contact with the ball, often showing a good feel for the barrel.
It’s worth noting that although Gourson has a good feel for the barrel, he often struggles against breaking balls and left-handed pitching. Watching Gourson in Double-A myself, there were moments where he looked overwhelmed against breaking balls, looking silly on a few occasions. Left-handed sliders were his kryptonite, also, as those were the moments I saw him take his weakest swings.
He could benefit from keeping the ball off the ground a little bit more in 2026, as he hit a ton of ground balls across both levels in 2025. He’s also a dead pull hitter, which can work to both his advantage and disadvantage at times.
As for his raw power, Gourson is limited due to his frame and contact-oriented approach. Despite this, there is still extra-base hit potential in his bat due to his excellent feel for the barrel. He regularly produced loud barrels and 23 non-homer extra-base hits between both levels.
On the base paths, Gourson is a decently quick runner, as indicated by his 31 stolen bases in 2025. His awareness and ability to avoid getting caught are the best aspects of his game in this area, as he went 31 for 34 on stolen bases last year.
Defensively, he likely profiles as a second baseman long-term. His range and arm are both average at best, which would serve him well at the position. While he played some third base in 2025, I don’t see this being a long-term home for him.
All things considered, Gourson has a lot of very sound tools, but he definitely profiles as a bat-first player. If he continues to flash this tool set at the next level, he could become a very solid major league player if given the opportunity.
Final Thoughts
Between his encouraging numbers and well-rounded tools, the UCLA alum is a player to keep a close eye on heading into the 2026 season. He was one of the more intriguing hitters I saw in Double-A Altoona this season, as I honestly didn’t expect to be so impressed with his game.
Gourson’s name was among the seven non-roster invitees the Pirates announced on January 16th, meaning he’s going to get a shot against some big league competition in the spring. This will be a huge test for Gourson, as it’ll be his chance to prove whether or not his offensive skills will translate to even better pitching.
If he handles these arms well, there’s a good chance Gourson starts the year in Triple-A, which would put him on track to make his big league debut later in the 2026 season.
